The Fort Hays State men's basketball team heads to Pittsburg State on Saturday (Jan. 19) for the only regular season meeting between the teams this year. Game time is set for 3:30 pm at John Lance Arena. Fort Hays State enters at 10-4 overall, 4-2 in the MIAA, while Pittsburg State is 11-4 overall, 4-3 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State has an eight-game win streak against the Gorillas, dating back to the 2008-09 season. The Tigers swept the regular season series with the Gorillas in each of the last four years, but the teams meet just once this year with the expansion of the conference. The last win for PSU in the series was in 2007-08 in Pittsburg by a score of 67-53. FHSU won 76-66 last year in Pittsburg. This is the 149th meeting between the schools as FHSU holds an 80-68 advantage in the all-time series.
Fort Hays State is 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the MIAA on the road this year. Both of the road wins in conference play were in overtime at Missouri Western and Emporia State. Three of Fort Hays State's losses overall this year have been by two points or less.
Dwayne Brunson is leading the Tigers in scoring and rebounding at 15.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He also averages 2.3 blocked shots per game to lead the MIAA. Also averaging double figures in scoring are
Lance Russell (13.7),
Ben Congiusta (13.6), and
Craig Nicholson (12.9). Nicholson leads the MIAA in assists per game (7.0).
Freshman Kaleb Porter leads Pittsburg State in scoring at 14.5 points per game and assists at 2.3 per game. JaVon McGee is the top rebounder for the Gorillas at 7.4 per game.
